Summary:
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## 📌 Context & Purpose
* Issued by **MNRE – Geothermal Division**, approved by the Hon’ble Minister for NRE.
* Aims to **tap India’s untapped geothermal resources** to support the 2070 Net Zero target.
* Provides a **framework for exploration, development, and deployment** of geothermal power & direct-use technologies.
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## 🌍 Vision & Goals
**Vision:** Establish geothermal energy as a major pillar of India’s RE mix, ensuring sustainability, security, and climate alignment.
**Goals include:**
* Strengthen research in geothermal drilling, reservoir management, cost-effective power.
* Collaborate with global & domestic institutes for best practices.
* Promote **GSHPs**, district heating, cooling, and industrial uses.
* Repurpose **abandoned oil & gas wells** for geothermal.
* Build a **public–private ecosystem** and enable capacity building.
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## ⚡ Geothermal Potential in India
* **381 hot springs** identified by GSI; temperatures 35°C–200°C.
* **10 provinces:** Himalayan, Naga-Lusai, Andaman-Nicobar, SONATA, West Coast, Cambay, Aravalli, Mahanadi, Godavari, South Indian Cratonic.
* Key sites: Puga (Ladakh), Manikaran (HP), Tapovan (Uttarakhand), Sohna (Haryana), Bakreshwar (WB), Dholera (Gujarat), Tattapani (Chhattisgarh), Manuguru (Telangana).
* **Data repository** to be built with GSI, MoM, MoES, CSIR-NGRI, CGWB, and DGH.
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## 🔧 Scope of Systems
* **Resource assessment:** Geological, geophysical, exploratory drilling.
* **Power production:** Dry steam, flash, binary, Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC), Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS).
* **Direct use:** Heating, cooling, cold storage, greenhouses, aquaculture, food drying, tourism.
* **Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHPs):** Applicable across India.
* **By-products:** Mineral extraction (lithium, silica, borax) allowed under MMDR Act concessions.
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## 🏗️ Development & Deployment Model
* Stages: exploration → drilling → feasibility → power plant construction → operation.
* **100% FDI allowed**; preference for indigenous technology.
* Govt. may share exploration risk, support NE & special category states.
* **Joint ventures** encouraged (oil/gas + geothermal developers).
* **Financing tools:** VGF, concessional loans, green bonds, feed-in-tariff, risk-mitigation grants.
* **Fiscal incentives:** Import duty/GST exemptions, tax holidays, accelerated depreciation, property tax exemptions.
* **Regulatory benefits:** ISTS waiver, open access, RE Must-Run status, RPO eligibility, carbon credit trading.
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## 🏛️ State & UT Guidelines
* States to allocate **geothermal blocks/zones** (3 yrs + 2 yrs extension; up to 30 yrs for development).
* Single-window clearance via state nodal agencies.
* Developers must secure land, environmental & community clearances.
* Concessional govt. land lease possible.
* Defense clearance required for sensitive zones.
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## 🚀 Implementation Framework
* MNRE is the **nodal ministry**.
* Tools:
* International cooperation & technology transfer.
* Grants/loans via DFIs, IREDA, and donor bodies.
* R\&D under **RE-RTD scheme**.
* **Centres of Excellence (CoEs)** for geothermal energy.
* Periodic monitoring & progress reports.
* SOPs for project implementation.
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For more information please see below link:
